Savings bank



April 10, 1928. 1,665,824

Z. M. SPEER SAVINGS BANK Filed March 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H W u 254'- CONSCIEPCE 5* |O FUND DAILY BANK OF AMERICA i m z SAVE 52 awn/tor Zeno 77&. 0,3662" W I 6 Max/Ax April 10, 1928.

r 2. M. SPEER v SAVINGS BANK Filed March 9. 1925 z-sheets-shee; '2

Patented Apr. 10, 1928;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ZENO M. SPEER, 0F MILYVAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGF OR TO SPEER CALENDAR BANK COMPANY, OF MILVJA'UKEE'WIQCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SAVINGS BANK- Application filed March 9, 1925. Serial No. 14,031.

My invention relates to savings banks and more particularly to a device which includes in its construction a perpetual calendar mechanism which is automatically kept up to date by the regular deposit of coins, thereby encouraging the habit of regular and systematic saving.

The invention also embodies improvements upon the construction shown in my prior Piitent No. 1,356,750, dated October 26, 1920, the object thereof being to utilize the idea of the perpetual calendar so that the insertion of the coins automatically accomplishes the shifting of the calendar from day to day, positive mechanical connection being provided between the calendar and the entry to a coin deposit compartment wherebv the calendar can be advanced only by th insertion of coins of the proper denomination in said entry way or coin slot, this deposit of the coins of the proper dcnomination being necessarily regular 111 ordcr to keep the 'alendar up to date, and the failure to indicate the proper date serving as a reminder that the proper savings have not been inserted.

its heretofore constructed, banks of this nature have been large and cumbersome, re- (piiring the carrying of the entire bank to the banking institution for deposit in accordance with the well-known systems adoptcd by different banking institutions for encouraging saving, the bank holding the key and the idea being that the depositor will go to the bank at intervals to deposit the savings thus accumulated in the hand bank, and the bank cashier who holds the key, will open the bank upon the depositors visit, to remove the contents therefrom, locking the bank and returning it to the depositor for use for another period.

The fundamental object of the present invention is to provide a novel savings bank of the calendar bank type having a removable coin chai'ubc, .tllillClQC or magazine \vhicl is inserted in the housing or casing of the bank in operative position for receiving the coins deposited to advance the calendar. and which i; ren'ioved to provide a small portable device capable of being easily accommodated in ones pocket or pocket-book, handbag or the like, for carrying same to the depository, as distinct from the cumbersome housing or casing, thus overcoming the principal objection to the calendar savings bank as heretofore constructed.

The invention also embodies novel means whereby the insertion and removal of the cartridge controls the operation of the coin or check operative mechanism for advancing the calendar to keep the same up to date, the cartridge or magazine when in position permitting the insertion of the coin for the operation of the calendar and preventing the insertion of coins and opera tion of the calendar upon being removed, thus preventing the operation of the calendar except when the magazine or coin receptacle is in position to receive the coins, thereby requiring that the same be taken to the banking institution to be opened for deposit of the savings, thus accumulated.

lVit-h these and other objects in view, the invention also consists in a novel construction of calendar mechanism and controlling means therefor, together with a novel as sembly of parts which facilitates quantity production of the device and mechanism thereof. and in general provides an attractive and convenient device for the purposes stated.

Referring now to the drawings, in which is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a calendar savings bank of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the calendar mechanism applied to the bankas an assembly together with the magazine or coin receptacle and showing the operative relation of these parts for controlling the insertion of the coin and the operation of the calendar mechanism, the housing being in section.

Fig. 4 is a side or end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 8 with the housing in section. 1

F ig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the calendar mechanism in the unit or assembly form as shown in. Figs. 3 and t, said section being taken on the section line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a disassembled front elevation of the coin chamber or receptacle embodied in the magazine or cartridge type of construction of the device, showing the bottom and key in related positions for use.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the section line 7-7 of Fig. 6, the bottom and key being shown in side elevation.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation corresponding to Fig. 6 and showing cooperating parts of the calendar actuating mechanism in co-operative relations thereto in dotted lines, to illustrate the manner of controlling the insertion of the coins; and

Fig. 9 a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the section line 99 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, my novel savings bank includes a housing or casing generally designated at 1.0 and preferably constructed. of sheet metal, one section of which is bent to form a vertical front portion 11. and inclined front portion 12 extending upwardly and rearwardly at an obtuse angle with respect thereto to somewhat simulate a cash register, a top horizontal portion 13 and a vertical back or rear portion 14. Sides 15 are joined to the pertions 11, 12, 13 and 14 as by means of concealed rolled or curled joints, as indicated at- 16, except that the top portion 13 is pr0vided with end tongues 17 which are extended inside the sides or end walls 15. while the bottom of the casing or honsing is open. The front portion 12 is preferably provided with a plurality of slots 18, 19. 20 and 21 of varying size in the preferred construction and adapted to receive coins of the denominations indicated. namely, twenty-five cents. fifty cents or under. in the conscience fund slot 19. five cents and ten cents. or other suitable denominations as desired. These slots are preferably marked as indicated as a guide in the use of the device.

Immediately above the portion 11. an opening 22 is provided and similar openings 23 and 24- to display the month and date of the month by reason of the units and tens columns displayed through said openings, the openings 22. and 24: being preferably provided with a transparent backing or window 25. secured on the inside of the front portion 12 of the housing and being of cellu loid or other suitable material. This will prevent accessto and turning of the dating device to be hereinafter more fullv described. The back 14 is provided with an opening 26 and the sides 15 are provided with openings 27 marked for the deposit of bills, horizontal elongated depressions 28 near the front and. bottom edges forming inwardly projected shoulders. and substantially semi-circular thumb and finger receiving cut-outs 29 at the bottom edges near the back 141;. The front may be provided with stamped out lugs 30 indented to engage apertures in an advertising or name-plate 31, as indicated at 32, thouglrthis, of course, is optional. I

The bottom edge of the front portion 11 is providedwith a plurality, preferably two extended lugsor tongues 33, adapted to engage slots M in a bottom plate 35 covering approximately the front half of the bottom of the housing and having end tongues 36 and a central front tongue 37 bent over correspondingly recessed edges of a bottom portion 38 extending forwardly at right angles to a vertical partition and mounting plate 39 of the calendar mechanism to be hereinafter more fully described. The vertieal'portion of partition is extended upwardly at right angles to the forward extending bottom portion or flange 38 thereof and has an apertured ear 10 at its upper edge or portion -11 directed forwardly at an obtuse angle to the vertical part of the plate, which car is directed upwardly and rearwardly to contact with the inner face of the front portion 12 of the housing or casing and adapted to receive a suitable fastening means such as a rivet headed bolt 42 extending through an opening in the front portion 12 and having the nut mounted on the inside, to render the same inaccessible and prevent withdrawal of the plate 39 and coin actuated calendar mechanism mounted thereon.

The bottom or base portion. 38 of the mounting plate and partition 39 is stamped out at three points as indicated at 43 and these stamped out portions turned up to provide end bearings 1 1 having bearing openings and an intermediate bearing =15 which is provided with a recess 16 in the top to support a shaft 4'7 therein running longitudinally of the structure for rotation in said bearings'or standards. The shaft 4-? is stationary and has mounted thereon a pl urality of wheels or cylinders, upon which contigw rations or indicia are placed, said wheels be ing preferably of uniform size and mounted to rotate upon the shaft 17. As shown, all. of these wheels are in the form of sheet metal flanged. discs, the month wheel being designated at 48. the tens wheel at 419 and the units-day wheel at 50 and each provided with. a closure disc 51 at its open side and stamped out at its opposite side to provide a series of concentrically arranged ratchet teeth forming a ratchet wheel as designated at 52, said wheels being restrained from longitudinal movement by a spaci g sl eve provided between the wheel 18 and bearing 4:5 as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The bearings or standards i!- and 4:5 restrain the wheels from longitudinal movement in the other direction. in conjunction with closure discs 51 of the wheels ii) and 50, which abut each other as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The bearings or standards 44 and the shaft 47 are held from longitudinal movement by abutment of the ends of the shaft with the sides or ends 1 5 of the housing 10 and in addition, the ends of the angularly bent plate portion -11 which extends upwardly and forwardly from the vertical portion of the angular plate 39, has its ends recessed as indicated at 53 to provide shoulders 5t facing forwardly and depending lugs 55 bent down from the ends. Bracing strips 56 are provided with recesses 57 in their forward edges near their upper ends to provide hook portions adapted to engage over the portions atl at the notches 53 to rest against the shoulders 5=l as well as retained in position by the depending lugs 55 from displacement upwardly. The opposite or lower ends of the braces or strips 56, which are made comparatively rigid, are rebent to provide offsets 58 adapted to engage the adjacent en'd bearings H and to snap over the depressions or beads 28 in the ends 15 of the housing as shown in Fig. 3, thus additionally serving to hold the parts in assembled relation in conjunction with the tongues 32 which are turned inwardly through the slots 34: and the fastening member 42 as hereinbefore described.

A pivot rod 59 extends through aligned openings in the bearings 44 and 15 adjacent the base 38 and peripheries of the wheels 4 49 and 50 and has pawls 60 pivoted thereon. the teeth 61 of which engage the ratchet teeth of the wheels 52 of each roller or wheel to permit counter-clockwise rotation thereof but prevent clockwise rotation thereot' when viewed in the direction shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. These pawls 60 are provided with studs 62 received in the upper ends of springs 63 which latter are retained in position at their lower ends in seats 6-1 formed by openings in the horizontal plate portion 38 of the angular plate 39, which latter is of rigl'it-angled ftn'niation as more particularly shown in Figs. -t and 5 of the drawings. These springs normally urge the pawls 60 upwardly so that the tapered ends of teeth 61 thereof will engage the ratchet wheels for the purpose above explained.

Pawls 65 also engage the ratchet wheels 52 and are formed on vertically reciprocating plunger-s 66 disposed in rear of ratchet wheels 52 and held upwardly displaced and forwardly in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 52 through the medium of springs 67 extending between the top edge or ledge of the plate portion 41 and lugs 68 formed by cutouts in the forward edges of the plunger-s 66 as seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The plungers 66 have reduced upper ends 69 forming extensions projecting through slots 70 in the plate portion 41 and the shoulders 71 thus produced engage beneath the plate 41 to limit the upward displacement of the plungers. Each unit or assembly is similarly constructed and similarly operated and directly over each slot or opening 70 is provided a coin guide or entry way chute 72 of inverted U-shape construction having flanges 73 basing on the plate 21 and lugs 74 extending through slots in said plate for anchoring the coin guides in position at right angles to the plate and directly in rear of the coin slots or entrance ways 18, 19, 2t) and 21. The reduced portions or extensions 69 operate in the coin guides 72 as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, so that when a coin of the proper denomination is inserted in the slot, it will be disposed into the corresponding passage way or coin guide 72 and will engage with the extension 69 corresponding thereto so as to depress the corresponding plunger and shift the related wheel through its ratchet device, one step. In this connection, it is pointed out that each of the coin guides is made of such height as to exactly accon'nnodate the particular coin for which it is intended and in this way, as a proper coin is inserted in the coin slot and pushed through the coin guide, the plunger must be pushed downwardly to actuate the ratchet mechanism and turn the related wheel as it is thought will be readily apparent. As previously stated, this will advance the corresponding ratchet the distance of one tooth, and any backlash or return motion will be prevented by the pawls 60 and 65. By this means, the proper months may be displayed through the transparency of the window or opening 22, while the tens digits of the wheel 49 which are arranged in three series numbered 1, 2 and 3 with a blank space between each series, are displayed through the window of opening 23 and the units digits arranged from zero to nine, are displayed through the window opening 21 to give the correct date of the month which is'kept up only by regular deposit of the coins in the respective slots and of the denomination indicated therebeneath. The slot 19 designated Conscience fund, is adapted for the deposit of additional coins of any denomination up to and including one-half dollar to increase the amount of regular savings.

Ordinarily, the coins will be discharged into a coin compartment in rear of the parti tion formed by the right angular plate 39 permanently secured in the housing 10 but this would require the carrying of the entire hand bank to the banking institution for deposit of the savings. This is objectionable owing to the fact that the hand bank is such size as not to be accomn'iodated in ones pocket or hand-bag, at least not conveniently so without being cun'ibersome. Provision is therefore made for a removable coin receptacle or magazine providing a hand-bank of the cartridge type, so that the coin receptacle or chamber mounted in rear of the partition plate 39 may be easily removed and handily carried for deposit of the savings. This receptacle is designated generally at and isconveniently made of a stamping of sheet metal properly cut to provide a back portion 76, sides 77, bent for- \21l'(ll at right angles thereto and a front portion 7 S bent from the top edge of the back portion. 70 to provide an inclined part 79 extending in conformity to the inclined coin guides 72 in an upwardly inclined position and having flanges or tongues 80 along the sides. soldered or otherwise secured to the sides 77 as more particularly seen in Fig. 7 of the drawings. This receptacle is provided with an open bottom having inturned front. and baclc flanges 81 terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the cartridge or receptacle 75, which ends are rebent to provide out-turned flanges 82. The slots thus provided are adapted'to accommodate the inturned flanges S3 at the ends of a removable closure 84 for the bottom of the rccr'u'itacle This closure carries a suitable locking means including a rotatable bolt or plate 85 held between plates 80 and 87 riveted or otherwise anchored to the closure over the key slot and adapted to be operated by means of a key 88 to turn the bolt 85 in position to span the keepers formed by the flanges 81 and overlie the same at the inside whereby the closure is locked in position so that access to the savings contained in the receptacle 7 5 can only be obtained by the cashier at the bank where the savings are to be deposited. The flanges 82 in conjunction with depressions 89 in the ends or sides of the receptacle 75, are exposed through the slots 29 to permit convenient insertion and removal of the receptacle. which latter is provided with a slot 90 at the back through which a spring catch 91 riveted or otherwise secured to the back wall 76 as indicated at 92 projects to engage in the opening 26 in the housing 10 at the back thereof as means of removably securing the receptacle in the housing. Moreover. it is obvious that depression of the catch 91 and disengagement thereof with the wall of the opening 20 will permit. removal of the receptacle 7:") from the housing. The device, therefore. includes two assemblies or units, 115111101)". the check or coin operated mechanism for the calendar operated by the deposit of the coins and the cartridge or receptacle for receiving the coins and which is removable. so that only the receptacle 75 he required to be carried to the bank for deposit of the savings.

. In order that the coins deposited in the respective slots. 18. 19, 20 and 21 may be passed. into the receptacle 7 5. the latter is provided with corresponding slots 18', 19,

20' and 21' in the front portion and inclined portion thereof in rear of the coin guides. In order to guide. and centralize the coin receptacle 75 while insertingand removingthe same, the division plate or partition 39 is provided with a rearwardly projecting stamped out lug 93 adapted to enter a slot 91 in the front of the receptacle 75 through an enlargement 91' in the upper end thereof in the inclined or beveled portion, thus insuring accurate mating of the respective slots and coin guides.

hiean are also provided to control the operation of the calendar mechanism by the insertion and removal of the coin receptacle 75, to prevent the insertion of coins and the operation or advancingof the calendar wheels when the receptacle removed from the housingand to permit or render the same operative upon insertion of the receptacle in its proper position for receiving the coins. With this end in view, a plate 95 is slidably mounted on the partition plate 39 at the front thereof, the same having a bearing .in effect guide lugs 90 stamped from the partition and upwardlyextending guide lugs 97 disposed through slots 98 in the partition 39 where the latter bent forwardly to produce the portiondl. In addition the plate 95 is provided with elongated longitudinal slots 99 receiving project-ions 100 of the partition 39 to :ulditionally support and guide the locking plate 95 in its movement. The plungers 66 are provided with stamped out notches or recesses 101 in their rear edges receiving forwardly extending lugs 102 bent from the upper edge of plate 95, the lugs 102 being held normally in the paths of the plungers 66 in the notches 101 when the receptacle 75 is removed. from the housing 10 by means of a spring 103 having its ends anchored to lugs of the plate and partition 39 respectively and tending to move the same to the rightas viewed in Figure Set the drawing. In this figure. however, the cal endar operating mechanism and receptacle are shown in-assemlded relation as when the latter is inserted in the housing. in which position the lugs 102 are disengaged from the notches 101 to permit operation of the plungers 66. l? or this purpose. the partition 39 is provided with a slot 104 through which a lug 105 on the locking plate 95 projects rearwardly and is normally held at the lefthand end of the slot. 104-. Upon the receptacle 75 being inserted in, the housing, its angular slot 106. which may be formed as an extension of the slot L1". receives the lug 105 through its enlargement 106. and by reason of the inclined. wall of the angularly extending lower portion of. the slot- 100 engaging the lug 105. the latter is moved to the left in its slot 101. thus shifting the plate 95 to displace the lugs 102 from the recesses 101 as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This will permit the insertion of the coins through the coin guides 72 and depression of the plungers 66 for advancing the calendar mechanism and wheels so that the proper date will be exposed to View through the openings in the housing, when the coin receptacle is inserted in position to receive the coins. The lugs 102 will pre vent the operation of the calendar mecha nism when the receptacle is removed so that the same can be operated only when the receptacle is in position to receive the coins and since access to the receptacle for removing the savings can only be obtained by the bank cashier, systematic and regular savings will be required in order to keep the calendar up to date. As a further means to insure against removing the coins from the receptacle T5, the latter is provided with an inclined transverse partition 76 rigidly secured therein as through the medium of flanges 76 soldered or otherwise secured to the sides or ends of the receptacle 75. In addition, apertured ears 107 are provided on the partition '76 in spaced relation to the sides of the receptacle, the apertures thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, receiving a pivoted closure or trap door 108 which permits the coins to drop into the coin compartment proper of the receptacle 75 below the partition 76 after passing through the slots 18, 19, 20 and 21, but prevents the same from being passed back into the top portion and removed through said slots by inverting the position of the receptacle on its removal from the housing. In this way, the bank is made fool-proof.

It will be observed that no ratchet mechanism or indicting device is provided in conjunction with the slots 19 and 19. Furthermore, it will be obvious that while I have shown a check or coin operated mechanism for displaying the months and day of the month, additional assemblies or units may be provided to display other information, such as the day of the week, the year, or such other additional and useful information as may be desired. Nhile the month designation is adapted to be operated by the insertion of a twenty-five cent coin or a quarter, the tens wheel by the insertion of a nickel or live cents and the units digits by the insertion of a dime or ten cents, the relative arrangement of the slots and sizes thereof may be so provided to operate with different denominations of coins in United States money or otherwise, and that other changes in the construction and operation of the device may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Furthermore, it maybe pointed out that the partition 76 is preferably additionally supported by lugs 77 bent in from the sides 77, while openings 27 align with the openings 27 in the sides 15 of the housing 10 to receive the bills, that is, paper currency, which is rolled before insertion into the coin receptacle 75 as part of the savings in addition to the coins inserted in the slots. By this means, regular savings and thrift is provided for.

I claim:

1. In a savings bank, a housing having coin deposit slots, ratchet operated indicat ing mechanism mounted in the housing and visible through openings therein, a coin cartridge removably mounted in the housing and having slots in position to receive the coins deposited, and means whereby the re n'ioval of the cartridge prevents the insertion of coins and operation of the mechanism and the insertion of the cartridge permits the insertion of coins and operation of the mechanism.

2. In a savings bank, a housing, said housing having coin deposit chutes, indicating mechanism mounted in the housing and inchuling ratchet devices, said ratchet devices including plungers adapted to project into the path of the coins passing through the chutes, a sliding plate adapted to intercept the plungers to preventdepression thereof and insertion of coins in the chutes whereby the mechanism is rendered inoperative, and a removable coin chamber mounted in the housing and adapted to engage the plate to shift the latter from an intercepting position with respect to the plungers whereby the ratchet mechanism is rendered ope 'ative.

In a savings bank, a housing, said housing having coin deposit chutes, indicating mechanism mounted in the housing and including ratchet devices, said ratchet devices including a plunger adapted to project into the path of the coins passing through the chutes, a sliding plate adapted to intercept the plungers to prevent depression thereof and insertion of coins in the chutes whereby the mechanism is rendered inoperative, a"

coin receptacle removably fitted in the housing in rear of the mechanism and having slots therein to receive the coins deposited, a projection on the plate, and means co-operative between the receptacle and the projection upon the insertion of the receptacle in the housing to shift the plate from intercept ing position with respect to the plungers, removal of the receptacle from the housing permitting said plate to move to an intercepting position whereby the mechanism is rendered inoperative.

4. In a savings bank, a base, a housing mounted thereon and leaving a portion of the bottom of the housing exposed, a receptacle in the housing at said exposed portion and closing the remaining portion thereof, said receptacle having means for locking and unlocking the same, a plurality of coin guides on the housing, leading to said receptacle through slots therein, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on said base Within the housing, each wheel having a ratchet thereon, means to prevent reverse rotation of the wheelsand engaging each ratchet, a reciprocating plunger having a pawl engaging each ratchet and having a part disposed in the pathway through said coin guides, the passage of coin fitting said coin guides therethrough mm ingsaid plungers the distance of one tooth through its associated pawl, a sliding plate mounted on a portion of the base forming a partition in the housing adjacentfthe coin receptacle, and having lugs passing into recesses of the plungers upon the removal of the receptacle from the housing to prevent depression of the plungers and advancing of the ratchet mechanism.

5. In a savings bank, a base, a housing mounted thereon and leaving a portion of the bottom of the housing exposed, a receptacle in the housing at said exposed portion and closing the remaining portion thereof. said receptacle having means for locking and unlocking, the same. a plurality of coin guides on the housing leading to said receptacle through slots therein, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on said base Within the housing, each wheel having a ratchet thereon, means to prevent reverse rotation of the wheels and engaging each ratchet, a reciprocating plunger having a pawl engaging each ratchet and having a part disposed in the pathway through said coin guides, the passage of coins fitting said coin guides therethrough moving saidplungers the distance of one tooth through its associated pawl, a sliding plate mounted on a portion of the base forming a partition in the housing adjacent the coin receptacle and having lugs passing into recesses of the plungers upon the removal of the receptacle from the housing to prevent de 'n'ession of the plungers and advancing of the ratchet mechanism, said plate having a rearwardly projecting lug, means holding the plate normally in a locking position, said receptacle having an inclined slot receiving said lug and adapted upon the insertion of the receptacle to shift the plate and lugs out of the recesses in the plungers, whereby the latter may be depressed and proper coins inserted in respective coin guides for advancing the wheels, said Wheels having indicia thereon visible through the housing.

In witness Whereofll hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of September, 1924.

ZENQ M. SPEER. 

